BIDDEFORD — Kathleen A. Duke, 73, of Biddeford, died on Jan. 14, 2014 at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough.
She was born in Boston on Sept. 14, 1940, a daughter of Patrick and Elizabeth (Flaherty) Connolly.
She was educated in Boston schools.
On Nov. 1, 1966, she married William Duke in Seabrook, N.H.
Kathy started her career as a gift wrapper at Jordan Marsh Department Store in Boston. In 1979, she moved with her family to Lyman. She worked for Shape Manufacturing Company for many years. She then went on to work for Fairstock Shoe Company in Biddeford until they closed.
In 1994, Kathy began volunteering at the Stone Soup Food Pantry in Biddeford and continued until her passing.
Kathy and her husband Bill were foster parents in Massachusetts and Maine for more than 40 years. Kathy’s life revolved around helping people. She devoted her time and energy to taking care of her family and her family at the food pantry.
Besides her parents, Kathy was preceded in death by: a son, Joseph Becotte; and a brother-in-law, John.
She is survived by: her loving husband of 47 years, William Duke of Biddeford; nine daughters, Elizabeth Haight and her husband David of Cohasset, Mass., Kathleen O’Shea and her husband Gerald of Norwell, Mass., Susan Brady and her husband Steven and Donna Spaulding and her husband James, all of Pembroke, Mass., Christine Martin and her husband Rick of Saco, Shannon Grant and her husband Nathan of Dayton, Virginia Clusker of Navan, County Meath, Ireland, Susan Griffin of Oregon, and Tina Castro of Whitman, Mass.; two sons, Patrick Duke of Biddeford and Steven Duke of Worcester, Mass.; one sister, Patricia Lyons of Ayer, Mass.; 16 grandchildren, Melissa, Alyson, Moira, Sean, Casey, Sarah, Matthew, Jeffrey, Riley, Connor, Billy, Amanda, Victoria, Michelle, Colby and Nathan; two great-grandchildren, Alexander and Presley; nieces, Julanne, Kathryn and Arlene; nephews, Jack and Patrick; grand-nieces and grand-nephews, Rachel and Bryan Surprenant, Patrick and McKenzie Lyons, and Wyatt, Molly and Shamus Robbins; and many beloved friends.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014 from 10-11 a.m. at Hope Memorial Chapel. An 11 a.m. memorial service will follow at the funeral home. Arrangements are by Hope Memorial Chapel, 480 Elm St., Biddeford, ME 04005. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to: Stone Soup Food Pantry, P.O. Box 186, Biddeford, ME 04005. To share condolences online, visit www.hopememorial.com.
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